Oviedo – Saba:
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Thursday that he will call on the European Union to "immediately suspend the partnership agreement with "Israel" due to its flagrant violation of human rights," amid the genocide it is committing against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In a press statement ahead of the European Union Council meeting in Brussels, Sánchez strongly criticized the EU for not suspending the partnership agreement with Israel due to its aggression on Gaza, according to Anadolu Agency.
Describing the EU's double standards, Sánchez said that it makes no sense for the EU to impose new sanctions on Russia over its war with Ukraine, while continuing the partnership agreement with Israel despite its violations in Gaza.
He added: "With double standards, we are still unable to even suspend the partnership agreement with Israel, even though it flagrantly violates Article 2 of the agreement regarding human rights."
Sanchez stated that he would pressure the European Union to immediately suspend the agreement with "Israel" during Thursday's meeting.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2000, provides the legal framework for political dialogue and economic cooperation between the two parties.
Article 2 of the agreement stipulates that the partnership, which grants trade privileges to "Israel", is conditional on "compliance with human rights and international law."
The Spanish Prime Minister said it was "absolutely clear" that Israel had violated its human rights obligations under the agreement, and that the EU could not wait any longer to take action.
Spain and Ireland began pressuring the EU to review the agreement in February 2024. However, the EU only agreed to review it after a Dutch initiative last May.
With American and European support, the Israeli enemy army has continued to commit genocidal crimes in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in the martyrdom of 56,259 Palestinian citizens, the majority of whom were children and women, and the injury of 132,458 others. To date, this is a preliminary toll, with thousands of victims still buried under the rubble and on the streets, unable to be reached by ambulances and rescue teams.
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